Improvement in washing-machines



JGHN W. ER. impfovement in Washing Machines. N0.H8,487.

Patented Aug.29,187i.

rolls H thereunder.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. RIGKER, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,487, dated August 29, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. RIGKER, of Chelsea, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in VVashing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washingmachine with my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the center of the same.

My present invention has particular reference to an improvement in washing machines for which Letters Patent No. 112,382 of the United States were granted to me on the 7th day of March, 1871; and this invention. consists in a guard or clearer for separating and removing articles of fine texture, such as laces, muslin, fringes, 850., from the plain rolls situated under the main or fluted roller, as without the clearer such articles are liable to cling to the plain rolls, and, becoming wound around them, obstruct the operation of the machine, thereby necessitating the removal of the rolls and roller from their bearings. I

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawing, A is the base of the ma chine, formed in two portions, a b, pivoted together at 5, for a purpose fully set forth in the said Letters Patent No. 112,382. From the upper side of the base rise two vertical standards, BB, in slotted bearings c c, in which revolves the shaft O of the main roller D, the exterior surface of which is fluted or corrugated, and is revolved by hand applied to the crank G over four plain cylindrical rolls, H, which also have their bearin gs in the vertical standards B B, the clothes or other articles to be washed being passed between the fluted roller D and the plain Secured to the standards B B, and extending outside and longitudinally with each of the outer rolls H, is a horizontal strip,

beveled inward at its top, and situated a little below the center and in close proximity thereto. This strip serves as a guard or clearer, I, to prevent articles of fine texture, such as lace, fringes, muslin, &c., from adhering to the rolls and being carried by and wound around them, which is a common occurrence in machines constructed without the clearer and which necessitates the suspension of the work and the taking apart of the machine.

The operation of washing is best performed by partially revolving the fluted roller alternately in opposite directions, the clothes thus passing back and forth between it and the plain rolls H thereunder. All clothes except'those which are quite thin will pass out of the machine over the top of the outer rolls H and clearer I, but laces, fringes, &c., are squeezed so that the water is expressed from them, and in their dry state they are very apt to stick to the surface of these rolls; but, as the rolls revolve, the dry articles thereon are brought into contact with the upper edge of the beveled clearer, which readily strips them from the rolls without the slightest injury thereto.

As the split socket or bearing and the elastic band which draws its two portions together are fully described in Letters Patent No.112,382, and form no part of my present invention, I consider it unnecessary to further refer to them here.

It is evident that my guard or clearer may be applied for the same purpose to the rolls of any description of washing-wachine other than that shown in Letters Patent No. 112,382, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The application of one or more guards or clearers, I, to the rolls H of awashing-machine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witness my hand this 24th day of July, 1871.

JOHN W. RIOKER.

Witnesses:

N. W. STEARNS, W. J. CAMBRIDGE. 

